The Colorado Avalanche are trading center Charlie Coyle to the Columbus Blue Jackets, as reported by Pierre LeBrun of TSN and The Athletic. The transaction involves the Blue Jackets giving up two draft picks, although they are not first-round selections, along with a prospect. Specific details about the players involved in the trade are still pending, as notifications have not yet reached those affected.
Coyle, 33, is entering the final year of his contract, which carries a cap hit of $5.25 million. He joined the Avalanche on March 7 during an earlier trade that saw Casey Mittelstadt, prospect Will Zellers, and a second-round draft pick move to the Boston Bruins. After a slow start in Colorado, Coyle ended the regular season with a stronger performance, registering two goals and 13 points over 19 games. However, he had a less impactful showing in the playoffs, managing only one goal in a seven-game series against the Dallas Stars.
The Avalanche had recently secured Brock Nelson with a $7.5 million contract to serve as their second-line center, which likely made Coyle’s salary less tenable given Colorado’s limited cap space of just $1.2 million. With Coyle’s departure, the team aims to make room for necessary roster adjustments amid a tight center market, especially after signing both Nelson and John Tavares before free agency began.
This trade can be seen as a strategic move for the Avalanche, who are looking to strengthen their position for the upcoming season while managing their salary cap effectively. While losing Coyle’s experience might be a challenge, it also opens the door for younger players to step up and contribute.
As developments unfold, fans will be eager to see how this trade impacts both teams moving forward.